In late July 2018, it was once again time to head to Japan, ultimately to the Matsumoto Taiko festival, but before that to climb through the night to the top of Mt Fuji.

(Hello, Jens!)

The sun is just about to rise.

I highly recommend climbing the Gotemba or Fujinomija routes, and watching the sunrise from the crater's rim, rather than from the crowded mess that is the top of the Yoshida trail

Crater's shadow

Obviously, seeing this requires (quickly) walking halfway around the crater after sunrise...

Crater's inside

Foothills before sunrise